Thread 11 - TalkLair: “The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles.”

[Kucinghitam]

Whoops, missed the filling up of the previous thread! (thread 10).

Although the nights are gradually drawing in, the new lair of JTT escapees is all cosy and homey inside. The hearth is glowing, the walls covered in dubious artwork, books by non-approved authors line the shelves, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

My first order will arrive on January 2nd, looking at the delivery dates it's clear that they only deliver on Tuesdays which is fine by me. I will report back as soon as I've had my first meal!

How do you make a nut roast @artant ? Would it work as a veggie burger mix too?

Just saw this and showed it to Mr Veg, whose laugh almost deafened me.

Doesn't seem to be that unusual...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-36490552
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-37015956

Nut roast is similar to stuffing in some ways. I mix chopped nuts (I usually use hazel nuts but I think other nuts are more usual) with whatever I have. I generally start by chopping some onions and softening them in oil, I’ll probably add some chopped leeks and mushrooms then add the nuts and something to give it body (breadcrumbs work but so does mashed potato or a jar of lentils or white beans). An egg helps bind it together if it doesn’t need to be vegan. I may butter the loaf tin and grate some cheese into it before adding the nut mix then grate more on top so the whole thing has a cheesy crust. It’s not an exact science as I use whatever I have. My mix is sometimes a bit sloppy to use as a veggie burger mix but a couple of hours in the fridge and a perhaps a coating of breadcrumbs would sort that out.

I used to follow recipes but I’m more inclined to wing it these days.

In our house nut roast/veggie burgers/stuffing are largely a matter of shape and cooking method rather than ingredients.

You can make a decent cheaty nut roast with a couple of types of stuffing mix layered in a loaf tin with chopped onions/mushrooms/apricots or similar in between.

Our other easy veggie burger mix is:

• 1 tin chickpeas, roughly mashed with a fork
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 1 tablespoon mango chutney
• generous teaspoon of garam massala

Mix everything together, form into burger shapes (ideally in a burger press, but a good squash together by hand also works), fry for about 5 mins on each side.

Happy Christmas, all you threadsters of this peaceful oasis.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Here are some Lithuanians singing Riu, Riu, Chiu - I just love the glee on those small boys' faces.

Thanks for recipes. My stuffing has a lot of those ingredients, but it does also have pork sausagemeat in it, so not vegetarian friendly. I love it though!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

I love stuffing!

Merry Christmas, you lovely bunch. I hope tomorrow is a good day of food, happiness with at least an hour of our feet up and gentle and cosiness for all of us.

Merry Christmas all! I’m definitely hoping for a bit of time lounging about!

Merry Christmas, you lovely people! I have stocks of fuel and food and drink, everything I need. And if Xmas Day TV is a grisly as it usually is, I've recorded Casablanca as a back-up.

Merry Christmas! May you all have a day filled with lovely things.

Merry Christmas one and all.

We're in port a mere 5 miles from home! Mrs. Sinner is coming up tomorrow, I'll give her and DD a tour of the ship, then go home for a couple of hours.

That's lovely news, Sinner!

I just have to stay awake with nowt to do, now!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Merry Christmas everyone, hope everyone has the most lovely, peaceful day!

Yes, Merry Christmas!

Happy Christmas all.

Sorry I've been absent lately - it was a slightly trying start to winter - I never find the back-end an easy season, and this year had funerals three weeks running (friends and neighbours, not family) which didn't help. Still, the days are getting longer and the snowdrops have started, so onwards and upwards.

Sorry to hear you've had three funerals to attend just before Christmas, Elderberry. I hope you get a lull for a while and have a lovely Christmas.

We've just had an almost exact repeat of last Monday morning's bird rescue drama, with another blue-tit stunning itself and needing to be picked up and held for a while. Pictures aren't great, but here it is having woken up and sitting in a nearby giant salvia after flying off. Time to get those window stickers put up.

Birds, such a worry...

Good to see you, Elderberry - I hope things continue to improve with the lengthening days.

Oh, well done with the blue tit!